Coppin State University Criticized for Trying to Help Low-Income Students Who Have Had Difficulty Paying Their Bills

A state auditor charges that historically black Coppin State University in Baltimore has failed to follow proper procedures in collecting overdue tuition payments. The audit showed that the university has allowed students who have not paid their bills to continue taking classes. The report found that 184 of the 3,763 students who registered for the spring 2009 semester had outstanding balances from previous expenses.

A university spokesperson noted that the university has “performed the role of transforming lives for minority students who often have limited financial resources. There has been a tendency for us to carry students beyond policy boundaries in order to help them achieve a college degree.”

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